February 8, 2006
Little desks and big flames
High school and elementary students swap classes for the day
By
Herald staff writer
Second-grade student Jay Jones summed up the visit his class paid to a high school chemistry class in one word - "wow!"
Jones, along with his class from Holy Angels Elementary School, visited St. Francis High School, Friday, as part of a student swap between the two schools.
Each year St. Francis High School students return to the days of construction paper, crayons and markers while the elementary students attended chemistry and religion classes to see how the other half lives as part of Catholic Schools Week.
"Our kids love going over to those little desks. We've had a great time this week," said high school religion teacher LeaAnn Anderson who welcomed an excited bunch of first-graders to her classroom. While there was a debate among the students on which school had the better classrooms, they all agreed that high school is much harder.
The second-graders who attended Frank Paladino's chemistry classroom, held no debate on the fact that high school classes are more exciting. Paladino performed several experiments - many producing shooting flames - that kept his young audience thoroughly fascinated.
"It gives me a new insight to see the excitement that the kids have for what we do here," said Paladino who looks forward to the student swap each year.
"It is always fun to see the fresh faces, they inspire me," Paladino said.